Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 30: Self Portrait

This photo is not just of me but I took it and I'm in it!! So it totally counts. : ) Time with my sisters is rare and priceless so I treasure it!! A trip to the temple, Cafe Rio, and a movie made for a brilliant closing for November. It was a great challenge and I'm SO glad I did it!! But I'm ready for a break. Challenge became a chore somewhere along the way. But I'll be around. : ) So much to be grateful for! And I'm thankful for the reminder.

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 29: Light

This quote was the first thing I thought of when I saw that the subject for today was light. I think it is always worth remembering and applies to so many situations. It's a little obscure, but this is MY project. : ) And Dumbledore is awesome!!

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 28: Night

Nighttime is the BEST time. : ) I've always been a night-owl. I get the tendency from both sides of my family, it seems. Even if it's against my better judgement or common sense, I still seem to stay up way too late! Right now, I'm up late watching a movie. "I.Q." To be exact. Have you seen it? SO GREAT. :D

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 27: Daily Routine

I am a big BIG fan of routines. It's hard to truly represent my routine through a few photos, but it'll do. Alarm. Running late (of course). Drive up the canyon. Make yummy and pretty things. It's not a bad life. ; )

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 26: Transportation

This is my beloved Chevy Blazer. I've had Belinda (yes, she has a name) for almost 4 years. She has her quirks and is currently attempting to make me broke. But I'm fighting back by letting it go until it is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY to fix it. ; ) I kid. Sorta. But really, she's been good to me. She also functions as my storage facility for snowboarding crap. She does really well at that!! Haha. I'm grateful to have it in whatever capacity right now.

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 25: Artwork

I never have been good at anything traditionally artistic: drawing, painting, sculpting, etc. But I have found a creative outlet in food. I do enjoy the presentation and precision it takes to make things look good along with tasting good. Here's a small representation of what I've done in the past.

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 24: Gratitude

Seems like a vague subject for today, but whatever. I found this quote and felt like it fit the bill. I'm all about the quotes. : )

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 23: Closet

Here it is! In all its cramped and tiny glory. : ) No cleaning took place before photographing. Keepin' it real! Baha. Mostly consists of graphic tees, which remains my preferred item of clothing. Grateful for a full closet and a place to put it all! : )

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 22: Clothing

I focused on my favorite item of clothing: t-shirts! I have more than my fair share of graphic tees but I just can't get enough! I love how as you go about your day, one person can recognize the reference and just for that second, you're connected. Puts a smile in my face. : )

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 21: Where You Sleep

My bed. I love it!! Queen-sized and glorious. Even more fantastic after sleeping on a futon all Summer. ; ) So grateful for a roof over my head and a comfortable bed! : )

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 20: Seasonal

Tis the season to be thankful. Obviously, considering the holiday and I've been doing this challenge the WHOLE MONTH. 2/3 way through! Woot. : ) It is also the season of PIE!!! No doubt, the most exciting part of the meal. These picture are from last Thanksgiving. I actually had the day off and spent it with some great friends whom I miss. (This means you, Kim!! : ) ) Tomorrow is pie-making day. No work. But I do in fact work on Thursday this year. : / Sigh. I am thankful for my job, though!!

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 18: Something New

Hmmm. Something new. I just went literal and posted some of my newest purchases and interests. My newest TARDIS t-shirt from Doctor Who. I think I'm up to 5! My new boots that I absolutely LOVE, even though I'm not shoe person. And my most recent obsession, Mr. Marcus Mumford, lead singer of the band Mumford & Sons. THEY. ARE. SO. GREAT. And he is rather attractive. ; ) So, yeah!

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 17: Memories

Ah, memories. Top left is my friend Kim and I at the Birds of Prey skiing competition in Beaver Creek, Colorado, last year. It was really fun! Top right is a trip to IKEA with my youngest sister, Alex, that was bizarre and awesome that resulted in her in a box. And the bottom is with my youngest sisters and our dad at my cousin's wedding last year. Really good times. : )

p.s. I did in fact do the challenge yesterday (Saturday) and posted it everywhere but didn't get it on blogger. So. Whoops! ; ) Catching up.

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 16: Animals

Clockwise from top left: my old roommate's sweet dog, Matty; a tiny gerbil eating a potato chip from the palm of someone's hand; the "cannot be unseen" cat; and Josh Groban with a cheetah. These were all random pictures from my phone that I thought fit the category. Sadly, I have no pets right now but hopefully soon! I do love animals. : )

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 15: Technology

Today I was on Pinterest while watching tv and took a picture with my iPhone and posted it. Amazing. I am also posting on this blog from said phone. Technology and how quickly it advances continues to blow my mind. It's fantastic and I am so grateful to be a part of it!

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 14: Movement

I thought a lot about what to post for this subject. Snow falling was high on the list. Almost posted it but then had to go back to my roots. : ) This is my wonderful KitchenAid Professional standing mixer in motion. It was my college graduation gift from the entire family. I love it SO much and am truly grateful to have it. It's whirring sound is one of my favorite things. Ever!!

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 12: Hands

Clockwise from top left: my dad's craftsman hands building a guitar, chubby baby hands of my niece Nora, my slightly damaged but still usable hand, and my nephew Dallin's cilantro-eating hands. He ate it, stem and all! So funny. : ) And despite its difficulties, I am very grateful my right hand works and now with little to no pain! The things I do for my craft... ; )

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 11: Something Old

My old, threadbare, well-loved and well-worn baby blanket. Made by some ladies in my parents' ward. I used to sleep with it every night. A warm, loving constant comfort to have. Wonderful memories. : )

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 10: Nature

I love the snow. And cold weather. I recall opening a window wide during college and wrapping myself in a blanket to watch the snow fall at 1am. It does make driving to work....interesting, however. But it is beautiful. So clean and white...yes. I still love it. : ) I'm so grateful for the beauty of nature!!

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 9: Inspiration.

Joy the Baker helped me bake for fun again with her spunk and wit. Libba Bray and others I've met let me know they are awesome and personable. Christina Hendricks reminds me to embrace my curves and encourages me to love them. (And I totally want her 60s wardrobe.) And music. Mumford & Sons and SO MANY others who lift me, carry me, console me, and sometimes just allow me my sorrow. I feel truly inspired.

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 8: Favorite Color

For the longest time, I have claimed my favorite color as some shade of green. "Bright" or "sage", mostly. Which I still love! But most recently, I just can't get enough of the color blue. But not just any shade of blue.... TARDIS blue!! Now, this is a reference to the British tv show "Doctor Who", with which I have a borderline unhealthy obsession. It's okay I'm aware of it. If it's not your cup of tea, so to speak, that's fine. You can just appreciate what a lovely shade of blue these item below are. : )

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 7: Something Funny

I don't know why, but this photo makes me laugh REALLY HARD. It's ridiculous. And awesome. :D

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 6: BOOKS!!

I could totally write a humongous giant post about my love of books and how much they have influenced my life. My favorite things, my closest friends, my constant companions. I am rarely out of arms' reach of a book. Seriously. Hug a Book Day!! *hugs* : )

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 5: Morning Sky

A magical, misty morning up the canyon in Fall. Not today, but a few weeks ago. I do prefer the rainy days. : )

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 4: Leaves

My parents, sister, and I drove up the canyon during the Sunday Afternoon General Conference session a few weeks ago. And by sheer happenstance, youngest sister and her husband showed up too! Fall is my absolute favorite time. The leaves, hoodie wearing, the smell...I love it all!

Here are my parents standing in the leaves holding hands. So cute!! I'm so grateful for them. : )

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 3: Happiness

I thought a lot about this category. A lot of things make me happy: family, friends, books, tv shows, etc. But I was at work all day and of course what I was focusing on was food. Baking, decorating, creating new recipes...it makes me happy. It is not at all easy and sometimes stressful, but I'm so grateful I found a career that I truly enjoy! To me, happiness is doing what you love. : )

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 2: SMILE!!

Some of my favorite smiles on some of my favorite people in some of my happiest moment in the past few months. : )

Gratitude Photo Challenge Day 1: Favorite Food

SCONES!! I have a ridiculous number of favorite foods but scones definitely have my heart. Once I discovered a recipe for Jalapeño Pepper Jack Scones on joythebaker.com, I was never the same. I *crave* them on a regular basis. I made those and since my sister Alex had the day off too, she came over and made Orange Dark Chocolate Scones at the same time. Both turned out awesome!! Most enjoyable day. : )